UNDER CONSTRUCTION, CHAPTER 22

 

            The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas flew by. Adam stayed south and spent Christmas with Charlie and her parents. Adam had proposed he give her an engagement ring for Christmas, but Charlie had told him she wasn’t ready. Instead, he gave her a beautiful emerald pendant he’d had crafted from a brooch that had belonged to his mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Patricia had gifted each of her children with a piece of handed-down jewelry when they’d become engaged and while they weren’t engaged at Christmas, both Adam and Patricia believed it was only a matter of time.

Adam had gotten the pin from his mother at Thanksgiving. He took it to a local, but well-respected jeweler and had the emerald removed and using the gold from the original setting, had it reset into a pendant. Charlie hadn’t taken it off since Adam had clasped it around her neck Christmas Eve. The chain was long enough that it almost hung between her breasts and if it didn’t go with what she was wearing, she still wore it, but beneath her clothes.

Early morning the day after Christmas Adam left for the north. She was barely awake when he sat down on the edge of the bed to say goodbye. He had taken the pendent from where it nestled between her bare breasts and told her he was delighted he got the brooch because the emerald color matched her eyes when she was in the throes of their passion. He’d laughingly added that he couldn’t look at the necklace laying on her chest without getting a hard-on. Her sleepy response had been that she’d just have to make sure it was concealed when they went out in public.

When Charlie got up later that morning, she found her little house silent and somehow very lonely. It surprised her because she’d actually looked forward to staying by herself and having some time alone. Instead, found she hated going home to the emptiness at the end of a day, having to figure out her own dinner plans and simply going to sleep and waking up all alone.

She was even more shocked to realize it wasn’t just the sex she missed, but the talk and laughter and time they spent together even when they were immersed in their own activities. Charlie liked being able to look up from the plans she was reviewing and see Adam across the room, his attention devoted to a book or looking up information on his tablet.

Charlie finally had to admit to herself that she not only liked Adam but that she loved him. She also had to admit she definitely could picture them having a life together, becoming parents and growing old together as his and her parents had. It was a bit of a revelation and one which she found herself more than happy to have.

Her fingers found her beautiful emerald and played with it, warm from her skin and reassuring to her mind. Now she was a bit sorry she’d told Adam she didn’t want an engagement ring as a Christmas present. They were definitely going to have to have a talk about their future and it was going to be up to Charlie to begin the conversation since she’d been so adamant when Adam had brought engagement and marriage up. She didn’t want to eat crow or admit she’d been wrong, so she’d have to think of some way in which to broach the subject.

Adam was due back the morning of the last day of the year. They’d celebrate New Year’s Eve together; and perhaps, if she planned accordingly, they could begin the new year as an engaged couple. She had a few days to think and prepare.

The night before Adam was scheduled to come home, Charlie called him. She knew he had plans with his family that night, so she’d be able to leave a message.

“Hi Adam. Happy almost New Year! I‘m sorry I couldn’t wait and talk to you voice to voice, but I have to make a flying trip to Texas. I’m at the airport right now, but I’ll see Jessie first thing in the morning and be back in time to celebrate the new year with you. Tell your family hi for me. Got to run. Love you.”

Charlie laughed as she pushed the end button. She wasn’t going to Texas, but she didn’t want Adam showing up at her place until she was ready for him. She had a plan and all she needed was time for its execution. The next day when Charlie knew Adam was on the plane and couldn’t receive her call, she left another voice mail.

“Hey Adam. It’s me. Got your message, but no time to call back. I’m getting on the plane right now and should be at home in my house by 7:00 pm. Why don’t you wander on over my way about then? Can’t wait to see you.”

Adam had been a bit annoyed by the voice mails, even more so when he called Charlie’s cell and left messages which she hadn’t bothered to return. Surely, she could have found two minutes to touch base. And what would happen if his plane or her plane were late. He’d made a rather spontaneous and expensive purchase while at home and he didn’t plan on taking no for an answer. The coming year was going to be filled with wonderful experiences, the best of which would be their wedding, even though Charlie might not yet know it. Adam patted his pocket as he headed toward his cabin.

By the time Adam was due to arrive at Charlie’s house, she was ready. She’d purchased a dinner that would keep well just in case they didn’t get around to eating right away. There were also a couple bottles of champagne cooling in the fridge. She’d lit candles in every room in the house, put fresh and nicely scented sheets on her bed. Besides that, there were all the little packages she’d wrapped and bowed and spread around her house. Adam was going to have to look and work for his reward.

Charlie had thought about greeting him in a kinky and seductive outfit, but opted for jeans and a sweatshirt, slippers and socks, and her hair in a pony tail. True, once he’d managed to remove all of that, he’d find the emerald-colored lacy silk panties and bra that were hidden beneath. But, first, he was going to have to play her game.

Adam showed up right on time. He brought a huge bouquet of red roses, a bottle of bubbly and a plate of hor d’oeuvres he’d whipped up that afternoon. He was a bit disappointed to find Charlie so dressed down as well as seemingly so tired.

“Oh Adam, the roses are beautiful. How about you get the cork out of the bottle and I’ll grab some glasses. We can drink and nibble while you play a game with me.”

“Play a game? What kind of game? Strip poker?” Adam responded, wiggling his eyebrows.

“No, this is a very serious game. I’ve put something in each room of my house and you have to find it. I’ll watch and tell you hot or cold depending on how close you get to it.”

“That sounds like a silly child’s game. I’m not too sure I want to play.”

“Oh, c’mon Adam. It will be fun. You might find something you really really want if you play along.”

“All I want right now is to yank your clothes off and have my way with you.”

“That’s one reward that’s definitely coming your way. Now, fill my glass and begin. The sooner you finish, the sooner I can take care of this.” Charlie reached out and caressed the bulge in Adam’s pants.

For the next hour or more, Adam moved around the various rooms in Charlie’s house. She hadn’t hidden the boxes in an order that would make her message easily figured out.

When Adam found the first little box in the living room, the piece of paper inside showed only the word “me.” “What the hell is this?” He demanded, waving the curly piece of paper around.

“It’s a word. Now, you need to find the other boxes.”

Finally, there was only one other box to find. This one contained the final word as well as a gift. Charlie had hidden it well, and it wasn’t until Adam moved his pillow on her bed that he found that box. At that point, he’d found the words, “me, will and you.” The final box contained the most important word, “marry” and with it a heavy gold ring that Charlie had chosen as Adam’s wedding ring.

When Adam opened that last box, he assembled the words, and holding the ring, looked up at Charlie in surprise. “You’re asking me to marry you?”

“Yes, indeed I am.” Charlie responded, kneeling between Adam’s legs where he was sitting on the side of the bed. “Since you’ve always been the asker and I’ve been the askee, I thought it was time I traded places. So, don’t keep a girl in suspense. Will you marry me?”

Adam started laughing and leaned back so he could push his hand into his pants pocket. “We really were meant for each other Charlie.” He continued to chuckle as he held out a small box. “Go on, open it.”

Charlie took the box and lifted the lid. Inside was a gorgeous emerald ring. The stone wasn’t large, but it sparkled as did the diamonds that encircled the stone. Adam took it from her and slipped it over her finger. It fit perfectly and looked completely natural adorning her engagement finger.

Adam pulled her up and on to his lap. “I guess neither of us wanted to begin a new year without some kind of a commitment. You have no idea how happy it makes me to know you’re finally willing to become my wife. I was beginning to think I’d have to do something drastic to get you to say I do.”

Charlie snuggled up to Adam’s chest and put her arms around him. “That may be true, but you have to admit I’m definitely waiting for, don’t you?”

Adam used his finger on Charlie’s chin to tip her face up to his. They shared a long and tender kiss. Adam’s hand went to Charlie’s waistband which had her jumping up and telling him he had to wait.

“I have one more present for you Adam. For this one, you don’t have to search or do anything but lay there on the bed. You get comfortable while I go get our glasses and that lovely platter of treats. Be right back.”

When Charlie returned to the bedroom, she’d also turned on some sultry music. Adam was sprawled on the bed, clad only in his own skin.

“Wow, I do like a man who knows how to get comfortable.” Charlie said with a laugh. “Now, I’m going to make you very uncomfortable…at least for a bit.”

Charlie placed the glasses and tray on the table adjacent the bed. Then, she went to the foot of the bed and began to move in time to the music. She did a very slow and teasing striptease. She pulled her hair from its band so it drifted down her neck and on to her shoulders. She raised up one side of the sweatshirt and then the other, allowing them to fall back down. Standing on one foot, she removed her first one sock and then the other. Then it was back to the sweatshirt, lifting up to provide a glimpse of lacy darkness and then back down. Eventually, she turned her back and pulled the shirt over her head. It was the same show with her jeans, down, then up and back down again. Finally, she stood poised at the bottom of the bed clad only in emeralds and matching underwear. “So, you want me to continue, or do you want the honor?”

“The way I’m feeling right now, I’d like to simply rip those pieces of silk right off your body and plunder.”

“Rip away Adam, rip away. Plunder me, take me, do as you will.” Charlie said as she climbed up the bed on hands and knees.

Adam rose up and pulled Charlie down to the bed. His hand went beneath her lacy bra to pinch her nipple and then turned to clasp the silk and give it a hearty yank. He threw the remains off the bed and lowered his head to suck greedily at first one nipple and then the other. Charlie writhed beneath him, turned on by Adam’s eagerness and his unexpected, though wanted, violence. Her arousal increased a hundred-fold as his hand found her panties and gathered them at the crotch before yanking them off as well.

Except for the one kiss they’d shared as she sat on his lap on the bed, they’d not kissed at all. Now Charlie was totally naked and ready for him, he left her breasts to rise up and begin kissing her mouth, fucking her mouth with his tongue. As he did this, his hands returned to her breasts, massaging and pinching and rolling the nipples between his fingers.

Charlie tried to raise up, to give back some pleasure to Adam, but he pushed her back, saying, “No, lay there, I’m enjoying myself.”

Charlie moaned but did as asked and gave herself up to Adam’s ministrations. He finally left her mouth, moved again to her breasts and then kissed and blew on the wet kisses as he went down her body. By the time he reached her mound, Charlie was so wet and so ready, as soon as the tip of his tongue touched her clit, she began to climax. Adam pushed his tongue against her quivering clit, then sucked until his mouth and chin were buried between her lips. When she stopped trembling so hard, Adam put his hand on her mons and gently massaged. That caused aftershocks which brought Charlie right back to the point she’d attained before Adam’s tongue touched her.

As if he’d been waiting for just that, Adam moved up and spread her legs wide. He pulled each leg over one of his shoulders and then, plunged himself into her hot and exceedingly wet core. He had barely stroked a few times before he could feel Charlie’s next orgasm on its way.

“Look at me, Charlie. Look at me as you come.” Adam demanded.

Charlie opened glazed eyes and stared up at him. As he felt her vaginal vibrations intensify, he stared into her emerald gaze and came in her and with her. When they finished, they were still staring at each other and simultaneously said, “I love you.”

They dozed for a bit, wrapped around each other and when they finally got out of bed it was to find the glasses of champagne flat. “That’s okay,” Charlie told Adam with a smile. “I have two more bottles ready to go. I also made sure we’d have something to eat for dinner, so while you open another bottle, I’ll put the food in the oven. It should be perfect by the time we’ve had a couple glasses and eaten those yummy treats you brought.”

“So, Charlie, you gave me a ring. Should I put it on and wear it now, or did you intend it as my wedding ring?”

“That’s up to you Adam. You can wear it now if you like and I or we can find another that could compliment this one.”

Adam slipped it on his ring finger. “I think I’ll wear it now. I’m not sure you or we could find anything more perfect than this one. Thank you, Charlie, it means the world to me.”

“You’re welcome Adam. My pleasure in more ways than one. Now, c’mon, put on your panties and let’s see about food and drink. I’m not only so thirsty I could drink half the lake out there, but I’m famished too.”

“That makes two of us. We need to fuel up now if we’re going to make it to the magic hour of midnight. You know Charlie, I don’t think I’ve ever looked as forward to beginning a new year the way I’m looking forward to this one. It’s going to be the best yet.”

Charlie gave Adam a little kiss and taking his hand led the way to the kitchen. After he’d opened another bottle and filled their glasses, Charlie raised hers and clinking it to his said, “Here’s to the best year of our lives so far. May we have many many more.”